Breakfast in Paris
 

We've just returned from 2 weeks in Paris and had a wonderful time. However 14 straight days of 2 croissants and a small baguette did get tiresome. Does anyone know of a 2 or 3 star hotel which offers more choices or perhaps a buffet with fresh fruits, cereal, eggs or even different breads? We aren't fussy eaters but do enjoy variety.

If you have a fridge in your room (minibar) you can buy yogurt to supplement. Can always buy fresh fruit at the many markets. I don't know about Paris, but it sounds like Italy where it is a great suprise to find an egg or bowl of cereal. Juice is readily available in Italy, however you sometimes pay extra for it. What you want are the Dutch and German breakfasts with ham and cheese and different kinds of bread as well as an egg or two, but those get tiring also.

When I was a student in Paris my parents came over to visit and stayed at the Lutetia Hotel (on Blvd Raspail)and they had the option of good "american-style" breakfast every morning.

Some Paris hotels in the 2 & 3 star range now serve a buffet breakfast. I noticed it mentioned in hotel recommendations in both Fodor's & Steves.

Stuck in an unusual heat wave, I searched for and found a Paris hotel with A/C for less than an arm and a leg - Frantour Hotel de l'Est, located in a wing of the Gare de l'Est. Modern, spacious (really!) and a great buffet breakfast - cereals, eggs, breads, meats, cheeses, yogurt. Highly recommend the place!

Dear Betty: I'm glad to know you enjoyed your two weeks abroad--but rather concerned about your complaint about French breakfasts. I'd say "That's what the French eat every day!" But actually very few of them have even one croissant, much less two. My French friends favor a sort of gruel which they sometimes mix with their coffee. But hey, they're French and they live in France. If we go there to visit we should accustom ourselves to what the French eat at home. To expect American-style breakfasts in Europe does not demonstrate much travel experience. Joan

Well, since you're home now it doesn't really matter, <BR>unless you plan on going back soon. I think your <BR>mistake is in eating the standard hotel breakfast <BR>(whether included in your room rate or you paid extra, <BR>usu about 40-60FF), which is almost always going to <BR>be what you described--certainly in a two-star hotel. <BR>They don't want to spend a lot nor cook for a <BR>lot of hotel guests. Next time, don't eat breakfast <BR>in the hotel, go out to a cafe, and you can order <BR>whatever you want--it's easy.

Thank you all for your suggestions and the e-mails with hotel names. We did keep fruit in the mini-bar and did go out, but since we will be going back and prefer to eat in our hotel when we travel I just thought I'd gather some names. Didn't mean to offend anyone - don't eat a full "American breakfast" myself; just getting some info which will be useful shortly.

Yeah Joan, way to cut ol' Betty down to size! Geez!could the tone have been more insulting?!! Sorry Betty, I thought it was a valid question,too. Maybe we (and all american breakfast eaters for that matter)don't deserve to visit France!

Before things get out of hand...May I recommend what my parents and I did..we skipped the breakfast offered by the hotel and instead went to a local bistro (between 9-10am), sat out on the patio, and had their petit dejeuner, which consisted of coffee, orange juice, toast and marmalade/jam. Priced about 40F per person. Not a bad way to start a day. <BR>I recommend the cafe on the South West corner of the square west of NOtre Dame, across from the justice bldg... <BR> <BR>A few comments on Joan's comment: we travel (hopefully)because we want to see and experience new places and cultures. We should NEVER expect them to be like us, and that's what makes it interesting! We don't want Paris to be the Paris of Epcot Centre! Likewise, put yourself in their shoes...If a Frenchman came to America, should he expect to be able to pay with Francs at the local shop or McDs? Should he be able to cash French travellers cheques at a local restaurant? Should he expect croissants or baguettes for breakfast? Should he complain loudly that they "Don't take real money here!" NO to all of the above. That being said, let's agree that variety is good, and I think all who have been to Paris will agree that there is easy access to all sorts of foods, so all tastes can be accomodated. Choose the hotel for its price/location/ambience, but forget about it for eating....(unless you can afford the Ritz!!) <BR> <BR>Some other time I will put down my thoughts about people who visit Paris and eat at McDonalds. Burger King, go to Hard Rock Cafe.... <BR> <BR>What do you think? <BR> <BR>

You're right, Mike. When you travel to a foreign country you really cheat yourself out of a potentially enlightening experience by trying to bring along your american customs-or in this case, your pancakes and bacon! But to each his own, you know? I love France. I love Paris. I too have seen the lines that head out the door of the Burger Kings and McDonald's in Paris. But, you know, maybe those americans who travel to Paris and eat american fastfood don't really WANT to experience the french cuisine-as ridiculous as they may sound to those of us who enjoy it immensely. Maybe they go there for the great museums, historical sites,& shopping and don't really have a passion for the food.It's their loss, but I don't think that implies that they're "losers", just different from us, that's all. What's your theory on this?

Paul...I did not quite think of it that way, but you do make a good point, and I do agree. Loser is not a term I would use, except perhaps in the sense that they have lost a great opportunity to experience something that makes Paris so glorious. I do find it frustrating though. You spend all this money to get and stay there, and then... <BR> <BR> I don't particularly consider myself a person with a great and varied tastes, but I have never been to a restaurant where I couldn't find something I liked. And,an even broader statement, I cannot ever remember going to a restaurant in Paris and having a bad meal (no, I'm not that bad a cook!). <BR> <BR>Maybe the way to look at it is as other people have: there are tourists and travelers. Tourists see the sights, experience something of the culture, but don't ever go "local". Which is fine. <BR>I took my parents there, and they had it a little tough. They are meat and potatoes kind of people , never been to Europe without myself. It was my initiative to take them places they probably would not want to normally go (and then rightly complain about all of the walking!!). Tourists they are, unless prodded. <BR> <BR>I do understand fear of a new language or of people perhaps "mocking" you as you try to order something in another language. It takes a certain amount of courage and a "laissez faire" attitude. This is noticed by locals, and I do feel that they apppreciate and respond to it... <BR> <BR>But...there is a point where I draw the line....Boorish, loud, condescending people who make no effort to undertand anything about where they are, expect everything to be like home,....now that is unacceptable to me. There has to be some level of responsibility somewhere....right? <BR> <BR>Also, time for a confession: I am bilingual in French. But I have travelled to Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland...so I have experienced other languages/cultures than France..... <BR> <BR>I too love Paris, and dream of some day living there.... now, where are those lottery tickets??!!! <BR> <BR>Am I making some sense?

Here we go again! All Betty did was ask a question, a succinct answer would do. Mike and Paul...e-mail each other. <BR>

Sorry Richard...we digressed...now that it's off my chest,back to succinctity(sic)...The value of this forum is trnasfer of information not rants....

I too apologize for falling into the tempting trap of this forum and for overlooking its real purpose. I did feel bad for Betty and the thinly disguised insult "Joan" threw at her,if you want to know the truth...call it chivalry gone awry!I do understand the frustration Mike expressed in his message, and from now on i'll keep my opinions on such matters off the "forums" page.Sorry!

Dear Betty, <BR> <BR>Regarding bread for breakfast...I love french bread but sometimes I want to vary the menu when traveling just as I do at home. A small hotel can sometimes accommodate you with different types of bread such as a filled croissant (chocolate, almond, or lemon) which has a different flavor than the standard croissant. I've also brought my own piece of fruit to the breakfast table in hotels - no one seems to mind. If you have the opportunity to travel outside Paris you'll find country inns or chambres d'hôtes have more variety, serving yogurt, fruit, and home-made jams. In Paris you might try staying in a hotel with a restaurant and thus have a better chance at a full breakfast or a residence hotel with a kitchen (great for stays of a couple of weeks). <BR> <BR>Here's some hotels for you to try. They serve buffet breakfast. Before you book you may want to check with them and find out what types of food they serve at breakfast. Good luck and let me know how you make out. <BR> <BR>Le Madison (0)1-40-51-60-00; Hotel Luxembourg (0)1-43-25-35-90; Grand Hotel de Champagne (0)1-42-36-60-00; Hotel des Tuileries (0)1-42-61-04-17; Hotel Violet (0)1-42-43-45-38; Abbatial Saint-Germain (0)1-46-34-02-12. <BR> <BR>The Hotel de Londres ** supposedly serves cooked breakfasts as well as continental Tel: (0)1-45-51-63-02; fax: (0)1-47-05-28-96. <BR> <BR>Glad you enjoyed your recent trip and hope the next one is just as pleasurable. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

I wasn't aware that Richard was running these forums <BR>and that he had the right to tell anyone <BR>what they can or cannot say. I hardly regarded <BR>Paul and Mike's comments as rants or inappropriate <BR>to these forums as they were discussions related <BR>to both travel and the topic at hand. I think many <BR>people on the internet are entirely too hypersensitive <BR>to remarks by total strangers. If you don't like <BR>what someone says, or think they've insulted you <BR>(which maybe they have), so what? You don't even <BR>know them, so why do you care? In any case, <BR>I am not obsessed with food the way some people are, <BR>and (quelle horreur!) have actually eaten in a <BR>McDonald's in Paris. Why? Because I've lived in <BR>Paris for several summers, and sometimes you just <BR>want a quick meal of fairly good quality and cheap, <BR>that's why. Every meal can't be a cosmic experience, <BR>you know, plus it is one of the best places to get <BR>a quick, clean restroom which is important for <BR>someone sightseeing all day. The remarks regarding the lines <BR>of Americans, etc., are ill-informed, however, <BR>because having stayed in Paris a while, I happen to <BR>know that most of these people ARE FRENCH!!! <BR>The French actually love McDonalds and line up by <BR>the millions to eat there, so what do you think <BR>of that? There is nothing intrinsically of greater <BR>value between a Big Mac and a baguette with fatty <BR>ham and cheese, slathered with butter, which is <BR>what you may get at a typical tabac or cafe. <BR>Anyway, they do have good frites, good ice cream <BR>sundaes, and pretty good cheap coffee at French <BR>McDonalds.

Christina...thanks for that. If I may venture another opinion....People can eat wherever they like...if you are a vegetarian, far be it for me to tell you to go to a restaurant serving only meat. Likewise, if McDo satisfies you, regularly or occasionaly, my opinion of McDo is of no importance. People place different values on food, accomodations,comfort etc...and one is not better than another. Vive la difference! <BR> <BR>I suppose I should admit my regular lunch when in France is exactly as you said..cheap and quick..ham and cheese on a baguette, with a pain au chocolat to finish....!! <BR> <BR>I guess my philosophy of travel and food varies from some others on this forum. I believe that travel is an opportunity that I give (and pay for!) myself to have a fun time, learn a few things, relax, and eat out often. I can have a (in my opinion!) horrid Big Mac at home....why would I go to Paris to have one? But if I lived there, honestly maybe once in a while. It comes down to: I couldn't afford to eat out at French restaurants every night, or want to cook every nite..so..extra order of fries please... <BR> <BR>But when I travel, the routine is a basic breakfast, simple lunch, and splurge on dinner. <BR> <BR> <BR>What do you think??

<BR>Betty - to add to some of the excellent advice above - how about getting some cheese too if you shop for things? While I LOVE the French bread (and the Italian bread and the German bread and the...) it can get a little monotonous and trying the different cheeses made it a little tastier. <BR>Adrienne - thank you for taking the time to note those locations/numbers. I always appreciate someone who does that.

A favorite breakfast of mine is some type of bread, fresh fruit and a 'Yop.' Yop is a yogurt beverage that you can find in the dairy section of the market. I like this breakfast when I don't want to spend a lot of time or money.

Try Frantour Suffren Hotel. You'll love it.

Enter one more vote for venturing out early each morning to buy a fresh, crispy baguette still warm from the oven, the sweetest strawberries ever, your choice of yogurts and cheeses (they have hundreds of flavors and varieties), French ham and sausages. On our limited budget, we only ate in restaurants for dinner. The rest of the time we "grazed", buying food in open air markets at St. Germain des Pres and Le Marais. The only downside is that the food back home in America now pales in comparison (I think I'll never find such great fruit again)! I'll refrain from commenting on previous conversation, but just let me state that anyone who can't find something wonderful to eat anywhere in Paris isn't looking very hard. It's all right there in front of you. You can always have McDonalds at home. Don't waste the opportunity to try new things - you might find it quite enjoyable! - or at least you'll have a funny story to tell your friends and family.

Christina: Lighten up..I was only suggesting that replies be kept short and keep to the question at hand. Please go back an re-read this thread, I think you'll find it tends to wander from the original subject, i.e. "does anyone know of a two or three star hotel....". For years on our trips to Paris we stayed at the Hotel Madeleine (a no star hotel) One morning we decided we were tired of the same ol' same ol' and looked around for a local place..the prices were ridiculous for the same breakfast included with our room! I've gotten good tips on this forum, including a couple from you, so let's all keep up the good work and stick to the subject, O.K.? <BR>

Hotel Etoile Saint Honore (a Best Western) was reasonably priced and their breakfast buffet included hardboiled eggs, fruit, cereal, bread, croissant, juice, coffee, tea and milk. Unfortunately I can not locate their phone number but you can easily book thru a US travel agent.

You've got it right. Breakfast in Paris sucks (excuse my French). Yes, the bread is great. Yes, the croissants are delicious, but it isn't enough. And those tiny cups of coffee!!! I spent a week in Paris last summer and loved it. But I began to dread breakfast. When we left Paris and went to Amsterdam, I thought I died and went to breakfast heaven. Hearty breads, yogurt, fresh fruit, hot cereal, cold cereal, freshly made omelets - and all the coffee I could consume. I enjoyed this huge breakfast buffet every day of my stay in Amstersam - and I was only staying at a small, six-room hotel! Starting my day like this made me feel like I was staying in the lap of luxury. <BR>

I must say that I personally loved the croissants and coffee for breakfast in Paris. Didn't have tiny cups though, mine was a huge glass of cafe latte. There was a nice cafe just around the corner from my hotel in the Latin Quarter called Stop Cluny that offered choice of 2 croissants or 1 croissant / 1 bun with jam/marmalade, choice of coffee and an OJ. Not bad for approx. eight bucks (was in 94 though). <BR>Re McDonalds etc. I usually go for a mixture of local and fast food (also the local fast food at "First" - a French version of McDs). The reasons : don't always have time for a long lunch, short of money, not terribly hungry. I can understand people thinking it strange if foreigners eat every single meal at one of these places, but a couple of times in an eight week trip isn't overdoing it. <BR>

There isn't a reply on here I didn't find interesting....so, travel forum-police, lay off please!! <BR> <BR>And who is to say what is a right breakfast for any one person? Personally, starting and ending the trip in England, grew to the point where the morning smell of the "full English breakfast" about did me in. But, there was nothing wrong with ordering "JUST toast" or some variation. <BR> <BR> <BR>And who wants to start a day in Paris with a full tummy?????? Isn't the idea to sample and taste and discover.....even if it's only lunch fixings from a local supermarket? To me,that's as worth a visit as any museum -- I wanna know what life is like in Paris TODAY, not 3,4,5,12 centuries ago! <BR> <BR>

ttt

Geez, it happens every time someone mentions the "McD" word. What is the problem? Cannot you people accept that there are people who like McDonald's just as much as people such as yourselves who do not? <BR><BR>Just move on and get over it. <BR><BR>Betty, the Grand Hotel des Balcons offers a large buffet for only 8 euro/pp. It's always raved about in all the guidebooks. The hotel doesn't have a/c though, that's probably the only drawback. But the buffet is the best-haven't stayed there but read many favorable comments. Also they offer a free buffet if it's your birthday.

I'm off to Paris in october and I'm not above going to Mcdonalds for the occasional start to the day. I got off an early morning flight from Fiji once and the breakfast on the plane was so unenjoyable, I didn't eat it and had a McDonalds breakfast at the airport. Can anyone beat that? I also don't like croissants except at Christmas when we have them here in NZ filled with delicious whitebait fritters for breakfast. Now that's really living. Is it not possible to go to a hotelin Paris that serves buffet breakfast even though you are not staying there?

I never thought about that idea of going to another hotel that offers a buffet b'fast. For example, the Grand Hotel des Balcons' buffet is not included in the rate so I wonder if the hotel would allow walk-ins. But if that is allowed there's the possibility of the food running out(?).

We were at Grand Hotel des Balcons in April, and found the buffet breakfast (it was 10 euro pp) was a terrific value. The croissants and bread are there of course, also different coffee cakes or muffins, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, yogurt, cereal choices, ham, salami, cheeses, etc. and a seemingly endless supply of coffee, tea and cocoa. Oh yes, and two or three different fruit juices. I would think if they were full, they might not take "outsiders" for breakfast...but if it were a slow season it is possible they might. What would it hurt to ask? The worst they can tell you is no!

Breakfast recommendations:<BR><BR>Coffee Americain -- an "American-style" diner, with locations in the 16th and St. Germain. Placemats have pictures of American presidents, with lots of Kennedy paraphernalia on the walls. Very popular and trendy with French teenagers and 20-somethings. Rarely see Americans in there. Good "American" breakfast food, including eggs, sausages, and even pancakes.<BR><BR>Le Flore en Ile -- I might have the name wrong, but there's a cafe at the tip of Ile St Louis (across the street from Brasserie Ile St Louis) that has a very broad, and very good, breakfast menu. Great sidewalk views of Notre Dame. Some tourists, but lots of locals too.<BR><BR>And, a final word about McDo. I lived in the 16th for 2 years, about a block from the McDo on Avenue Victor Hugo. I would occasionally stop there to pick up Happy Meals for my pre-school daughters. Most of the time, especially at lunch, there were lines practically out the door -- no Americans (except me), only French, and especially teenagers from the Lycee down the street. <BR>

Betty: I am absolutely no help as far as the hotels with buffet breakfasts (as I write I'm also listing the hotel tips down right now for my next trips--thank you, Fodorites for concrete tips!), yet I understand completely your two points: first, you enjoy croissants and baguettes, but by the 10th day, it might be nice to have something else; and b)you enjoy having breakfast in your hotel. <BR><BR>I love Paris and I could live on my morning tartine for the rest of my life, but sometimes I hate having to "jump-start" every day outside the hotel. We usually go out for breakfast in Paris for many of the reasons listed by other posters, one of the most important ones being that the kids prefer pains au chocolat, etc. on some days. When we're in Switzerland, we never have to leave the hotel because of the previously mentioned buffets. Everyone in the family eats what he wants, I get to read the paper while the kids debate all their choices, and most importantly, I get to use the bathroom again before we hit the streets for the day. Also, when you use the hotel breakfast, you can get tons of coffee. Sounds like a great excuse to stay put to me.<BR> <BR>So thanks for your question. You got some interesting replies...I've just got to check out Seamus' suggestion because I've never heard of it. I hope other people add to the list!

I got tired very quickly of paying 8 Euro for a croissant and baguette for breakfast, so I made a morning jaunt to the McDonalds across the street. 1.60 Euro for an Egg McMuffin. Better yet, I didn't have to say it in French. They understood Egg McMuffin (was staying in the 12th where there was not much English spoken). I had a less easy time understanding that French fast food is not fast, and I should go wait at a table for quite a while and they would bring it to me. But we managed.

If staying for a week or more, why not rent an apt? I love going to the Monoprix and stocking up on fresh fruit, coffee, juice, eggs or whatever you like.In the morning, by the time the coffee is ready, I can be back from a boulangerie down the block with wonderful pastries and whip up an omlette with fresh herbs in no time. Hate to admit it, but I have been out many mornings with trenchcoat over jammies for the pain au chocolat run! Wonderful way to start your morning in Paris!!

Maybe the small breakfast is a reason the French tend to stay in such great physical shape, at least when compared to nationalities that prefer large breakfasts. <BR><BR>My typical breakfast at home (USA) is coffee and a bread roll, so my French breakfasts have always been more than adequate. <BR><BR>My worst experience with breakfasts was in Madrid. The concept of eating bread in the morning seems to be practically unknown there. Everyday I tried a different restaurant, but pastries were the only foods most of them sold in the morning.

Big breakfast is just not a French thing, very similar to the Italian way.<BR>And then, they usually have rather late dinners, even at home, often not before 08:00 PM. How can you be hungry then in the morning?<BR>

Hotel Concorde St. Lazare (right by St. Lazare metro stop, 4* hotel) had an excellent American-style buffett. Lots of meat, cheese, cereals, yogurt - enough food to keep us full until a nice French dinner.